Pondering Taycheedah

Black and white uniform

birch sentries stand 

along view denying fog

shrouding an older GMC, 

odious grayward rumbling,

trundling, along chassis pelting 

gravel road, sounding cadence to 

a timeless sad blue tide inside. 

Soon through a strong iron gate,

disgorging more tidal denial to

the dark cerulean ocean inside

Taycheedah Correctional.

Only processing serves welcome

as cold fishy eyes consider bleak future.

There are no clocks,

only regimen to ponder

isolation constrains

for some a reckless 

wanton adolescence,

netted by some usury lover,

Or swimming to selfish greed,

perhaps yet even moral disregard .

All this bland flotsam floating 

unnoticed by our world

still cries out to color

an unlistening world:

You cannot imprison 

hope.                                                - Jerry Wendt 2021

Taycheedah is a Federal Prison for women in Wisconsin